Motor-driven film winder for cameras

Abstract

A motor-driven film winder for use with a camera having a film winding mechanism has a motor, a first system for transmitting rotative power from the motor to the film winding mechanism, a second system for transmitting rotative power from the motor to a mounting screw for threaded engagement in a tripod screw hole of the camera, and a switching control assembly for selectively operating the first or second system. The second system includes first and second selector gears angularly movable about the axis of a main gear and rotatable about their own axes in opposite directions. One of the first and second selector gears is selectively coupled, at a time, to the mounting screw by the switching control assembly.

We claim: 
     
       1. A motor-driven film winder for use with a camera having a film winding mechanism and a screw hole, comprising: a motor;   drive coupler means for engagement with the film winding mechanism of the camera;   first transmission means for transmitting rotative power from said motor to said drive coupler means;   mounting means for threaded engagement in the screw hole of the camera;   second transmission means for transmitting rotative power from said motor to said mounting means; and   selector means for selectively operating one of said first and second transmission means at a time.   
     
     
       2. A motor-driven film winder according to claim 1, wherein said motor comprises a reversible motor, said first transmission means comprising a first speed reducer gear train operatively coupled to said motor and including clutch means for connecting said first speed reducer gear train to said drive coupler means when said motor rotates in one direction and for disconnecting said first speed reducer gear train from said drive coupler means when said motor rotates in the opposite direction. 
     
     
       3. A motor-driven film winder according to claim 2, wherein said second transmission means comprises a second speed reducer gear train operatively coupled to said mounting means and including gear means for disconnecting said second speed reducer gear train from said motor when said motor rotates in said one direction and for connecting said second speed reducer gear train to said motor when said motor rotates in said opposite direction. 
     
     
       4. A motor-driven film winder for use with a camera having a film winding mechanism and a screw hole, comprising: a motor;   drive coupler means for driving engagement with the film winding mechanism;   transmission means for transmitting rotative power from said motor to said drive coupler means;   a main gear rotatable by said motor about its own axis;   a first selector gear angularly movable about said axis of said main gear and rotatable with said main gear in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said main gear;   a second selector gear angularly movable about said axis of said main gear and rotatable with said main gear in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said second selector gear;   mounting means for threaded engagement in the screw hole of the camera; and   switching control means for selectively coupling one of said first and second selector gears at a time operatively to said mounting means.   
     
     
       5. A motor-driven film winder according to claim 4, including a switching board angularly movable about the axis of said main gear, an auxiliary gear fixed coaxially to said main gear, and an idle gear supported on said switching board and held in mesh with said auxiliary gear, said first selector gear being supported on said switching board in mesh with said main gear, said second selector gear being supported on said switching board in mesh with said idle gear. 
     
     
       6. A motor-driven film winder according to claim 5, wherein said mounting means comprises a coupling gear and a mounting screw fixed coaxially to said coupling gear and threadedly engageable in said screw hole of the camera, further including a first transmission gear held in mesh with said coupling gear and a second transmission gear fixed coaxially to said first transmission gear, said switching board being angularly movable for selectively bringing said first or second selector gear into mesh with said second transmission gear. 
     
     
       7. A motor-driven film winder for use with a camera having a film winding mechanism and a screw hole, comprising: a reversible motor;   drive coupler means for driving engagement with the film winding mechanism;   transmission means for transmitting rotative power from said motor to said drive coupler means;   a mounting screw for threaded engagement in the screw hole of the camera;   switching means for enabling said motor to rotate said mounting screw selectively in one or opposite direction to tighen or loosen said mounting screw into or from said screw hole of the camera;   detector means for producing a signal indicating the completion of tightening of said mounting screw in said screw hole; and   reverse drive means for reversing said motor for a short period of time to rotate said mounting screw in said opposite direction to loosen the mounting screw.   
     
     
       8. A motor-driven film winder for use with a camera having a film winding mechanism and screw hole, comprising: a motor;   drive coupler means for driving engagement with the film winding mechanism;   first transmission means for transmitting rotative power from said motor to said drive coupler means;   a mounting screw for threaded engagement in the screw hole of the camera;   second transmission means for transmitting rotative power from said motor to said mounting screw to rotate the same;   rotatable control means manually rotatable for rotating said mounting screw;   a protective cover for covering and exposing a manually accessible portion of said rotatable control means;   drive control means for preventing said motor from rotating said mounting screw when said protective cover is open and for enabling said motor to rotate said mounting screw when said protective cover is closed.   
     
     
       9. A motor-driven film winder according to claim 8, wherein said rotatable control means comprises a circular knurled edge, said protective cover comprising an arcuate member movably extending in covering relation to a portion of said circular knurled edge. 
     
     
       10. A motor-driven film winder for use with a camera having a film winding mechanism and a screw hole, comprising: a motor;   drive coupler means for driving engagement with the film winding mechanism;   first transmission means for transmitting rotative power from said motor to said drive coupler means;   a mount surface;   a mounting screw disposed on said mount surface for threaded engagement in the screw hole of the camera;   second transmission means for transmitting rotative power from said motor to said mounting screw to rotate the same;   means for issuing a normal signal when the camera is placed on said mount surface in alignment therewith and for issuing a trouble signal when the camera is placed out of alignment with said mount surface; and   drive control means for enabling said motor to rotate said mounting screw in response to said normal signal and for preventing said motor from rotating said mounting screw in response to said trouble signal.